116 John & Charles Walker 1836

John and Charles Walker were sons of John Walker who worked for Alexander Dalrymple, Hydrographer to the East India Company in 1779 and for the Admiralty in 1795. John took over as hydrographer in 1808 and when he died Sir Francis Beaufort (of the wind force scale) was appointed. The younger John also became hydrographer to the East India Co. in 1836. He and Charles continued the family firm until 1890. They were prolific engravers for other publishers (102, 103 and 113) as well as for themselves and they published maps of India, the provinces, the Americas and the world working from a number of London addresses.

In 1837 their most important county cartographic work appeared, the folio British Atlas (47 maps), jointly published with Longman, Rees and Co. The maps were extremely popular and many editions of the Atlas were produced, often with a confusing inclusion of old stock so that maps with different addresses in imprints can be found together in one atlas. The earliest maps had lists of the hundreds according to the Quarter Sessions 1830 but this was replaced in later editions by those of 1839. Most of the maps were offered singly in folding covers, eg WALKER’S DEVONSHIRE. The maps were also issued as boxed sets from 1837 as Walker’s County Atlas(as well as being offered from 1842 by G F Cruchley).

This British Atlas (the title is taken from the dedication to the Duchess of Kent and Princess, later Queen, Victoria) was reprinted frequently until 1879. From 1849 many place names were added or revised to allow lithographic transfers to be taken, especially for Hobson’s Fox-Hunting Atlas showing the meeting places of hounds. This was very popular and reprinted until c.1882. Walker’s Fox-Hunting Atlas appeared c.1882 and c.1895. A selection of these are listed separately below.

The maps of Devon and Cornwall also appeared in John Murray’s Handbook of Devon and Cornwallfrom the 1850s but were briefly replaced by a map of the two counties together by W A K Johnston (c.1872 see B&B135)1 until a new map by Bartholomew was issued (150). William White wrote a History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County first published in 1850. This edition calls for a map, but this is frequently not present and with no signs of removal; hence the assumption that no map was issued. However, one copy has been discovered with a state of the Walker map conforming to an 1850 issue and with a White imprint that looks contemporary and added by the map publishers (see new state 8A below). A second edition also appeared with a Walker’s map (Second Edition 1878/9; state 18 below).

In the 1880s the maps were further reissued and appeared in Lett’s Popular County Atlas (1884-c.1889) which was also issued in parts: Devon appeared with Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset in paper covers with same title. The maps were extensively revised and overprinted with information, eg lifeboat and coastguard stations.

DEVONSHIREwith signature: BY J. & C. Walker. Imprint: Published by Longman, Orme, Rees & Co. Paternoster Row, London, May 1st. 1836. (CeOS). Two columns of polling places. The list of hundreds has been established according to the Quarter Sessions in 1830 (Ed). Population figure is 460,595.

Date in imprint changed to 1843. The list of hundreds has now been altered according to the Quarter Sessions in 1839 (Ed). Note added Remarkable Landslip in 1841 near Axmouth. Population figure now 533,462. Towns added, especially on south coast, eg Shaldon, Babicombe, Brixham Quay and Bantham. Three columns of polling places.

As folding map in covers

KB.

5.

1843

Railway to Plymouth.

As folding map in covers

BL.

6.

1845

Date in imprint changed to 1845.

As folding map in covers

AA.

7.

1846

Date in imprint changed to 1846. Railway to Crediton. Line to Tiverton.

As folding map in covers (BL has lost its cover; KB has added m/s lines to Barnstaple and Torquay))

BL, KB.

8.

1850

Imprint: Published by Longman, Orme, Rees & Co. London. but the towns added remain. Railways to Plymouth with extension Cornwall Rail and to just past Barnstaple; double thin line to Tiverton; very faint dotted line to Exmouth and same to Axmouth (from Yeovil). Polling Places lists separated by single line.

Handbook of Devon and Cornwall (First Edition)

London. John Murray. (August) 1850.

KB.

8A.

1850

Includes all changes described under next state (9). Imprint is: Published with W Whites History, Gazetteer, and Directory, of Devonshire, in 1850.

NEW

History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Devonshire ... by William White

Sheffield. W White. 1850.

KB.

9.

1851

Imprint: Published by J & C Walker, 9 Castle St Holborn, London. Railway to Torquay. Date removed from landslip note. Linton and Dartmouth added to Polling Places now in four columns and with dividing lines added. A number of places added for fox hunts (see below) added: eg Bantham, Wonwell, Woolstone, Blackpool and Burlestone Wood in south Hams district.

Longman imprint. Railways to Bideford, Tavistock, Torquay to just short of Kingswear (slightly altered leaving traces), L&SWR to Exeter and Exmouth. No projected lines.

... British Atlas ...

London. Longman, Rees and Co. and J & C Walker. 1862.

BL.

15.

1864

Walker imprint. Small spur to Chard from L&SWR line. Line to Watchet.

... British Atlas ...

London. Longman, Rees and Co. and J & C Walker. (1864).

(P Scott USA).

16.

1865

Longman imprint. Date added in imprint 1843. Note is Remarkable Landslip in 1841. Railways added to Tavistock-Lidford-Launceston, Crediton as far as North Tawton. Tiverton omitted (probably by error). Projected lines removed leaving projected to Exmouth (but signs of erasure). All lines are in red and look as though added by hand. There is little difference in thickness of completed and projected lines. All population figs etc as for 1843. Most maps are dated 1842 or 1843.

... British Atlas ...

London. Longman, Rees and Co. and J & C Walker. 1865.

BL.

17.

1870

Walker imprint. No date. Railways previously added thicker and sometimes slightly realigned: Torquay continued to just short of Kingswear with addition to Brixham; line to Moreton Hampstead added. Projected lines removed. Lines in Dorset added include lines joining Chard and Taunton and line through Langport.

... British Atlas ...

London. Longman, Rees and Co. and J & C Walker. 1870.

BL.

18.

1878

Imprint (this edition only): Published with WHITE’S HISTORY, GAZETTEER, AND DIRECTORY of the County of Devon. 1878. List of hundreds slightly raised and again according to the Quarter Sessions in 1830 but below the list is a note For alterations since 1830, see White’s Devonshire, pages 27, and 87-98 (Ee). Map area now divided into North, South and East Division. Railways to Torrington, Ilfracombe, Launceston (with Dartmoor loop), Sidmouth, Seaton and Hemyock but not Brixham, Taunton to Barnstaple. Places of Election now Barnstaple, Plymouth and Exeter Castle.

History, Gazetteer, and Directory of the County of Devon Second Edition.

Imprint: Published by John Murray, Albemarle Street. Population changed to 601,374. Ashburton added to polling places. Railway to Kingswear, Minehead (and mineral railway to Exton). Places of Election again Barnstaple, Plymouth and Exeter Castle.

Handbook for Devon and Cornwall (Ninth Edition)

London. John Murray. 1879 (1882).

KB.

21.

1884

Coloured lithograph. Title rewritten and reduced to DEVON. All text below scale bar, bottom right, removed and replaced with Population and other statistics in box (Ed). EXPLANATION OF SIGNS (Ee). Bottom left new box with LARGE FIGURES in body of Map refer to HUNDREDS, thus:-. New imprint above scale bar LETTS, SON & Co LIMITED and LETTS, SON & Co LIMITED, LONDON BRIDGE, E.C. (CeOS). Cathedrals and postal centres now also shown with printing. Railways added: Ashton, Kingsbridge and redrawn around Chittleham; Princetown as full railway. Landslip note removed. Extra signs have been separately printed over the map for light houses, lifeboat and coast guard stations, which have been engraved on the plate: these are highlighted red.

Title DEVONSHIRE as before. Imprint: Published by John Murray, Albemarle Street, London. Tables of information as 1882 state but with some changes: population changed to 604,397; table revised to show Divisions of the County and Places of Election with divisions listed in two columns with Boroughs below. This information deleted from map area (Ae). Railways added: Exeter to Bampton and Halwill; Princetown line redrawn.

Handbook for Devon and Cornwall (Tenth Edition)

London. John Murray. 1887, 1887 (1892).

KB; KB.

Fox-Hunting Maps

All fox hunting maps were produced as lithographs. All are coloured and the railways sometimes have the appearance of being added by hand. They seem to have been produced in parallel to the mainstream maps (see above) and are added here separately. This list is not complete but may serve as a rough guide to dating.

FH1.

1850

Imprint: Published by Longman, Orme, Rees & Co.London. No date. Plate Number No. 9 (EeOS). Map is overprinted with details of the fox-hunting areas, which are marked by a large dot and underlining. Fox-hunting information printed separately over map: in areas where meets continue in adjoining counties, note See Map - referring to meets which straddled border. Note below Polling Places PLACES OF THE MEETING OF FOXHOUNDS. Towns added which had fox-hunting meets: eg Worsewell, Nitton, Calstone and Wonwell in southwest Hams. Railway to Plymouth and into Cornwall, Tiverton, Crediton and Torquay. Projected railways represented by double thin line but no colouring: to Barnstaple only. Hunts are: North Devon, Marshall, Furse, Eggesford, Tiverton, Trelawny, Seale, and Devon (i.e. South), Morgan and Roe.

Hobson’s Fox-Hunting Atlas

London. J & C Walker. (1850).

BL.

FH2.

1855

Longman imprint. No date. Hunts are as last but no note See Map .... .

Hobson’s Fox-Hunting Atlas

London. J & C Walker. (1855).

(KB).

FH3.

1866

Despite date predates the next (1860). Address, population figure etc. same. Address in imprint 9 Castle Street Holborn. Note PLACES OF THE MEETING OF FOXHOUNDS moves to below scale bar. Hunts are same as 1851 above. The note See Map .... is deleted (at Morgan and Tiverton hunt areas). Railway to Tavistock, Bideford and Torquay extended just short of Kingswear. Projected L&SWR to Exeter with link through Langport.

Hobson’s Fox-Hunting Atlas

London. J & C Walker. (1866).

BL.

FH4.

1860

Walker imprint. No date. Population figure is now 567,098. No plate number. Map is overprinted with details of the fox-hunting areas, which are marked by a large dot and underlining. Fox-hunting information printed separately over map. No note See Map .... Note PLACES OF THE MEETING OF FOXHOUNDS below scale bar. Railway to Tavistock-Lidford-Launceston, Bideford and Torquay extended just short of Kingswear. Projected railways Exmouth only. L&SWR to Exeter with link through Langport. Line to Watchet. Hunts are: North Devon (smaller), Rolle (covering Marshall and Furse areas but not exactly), Portsmouth (covering Eggesford and north and east), Tiverton (smaller), Trelawny (larger), Seale, and Devon (i.e. South, smaller and error in colouring). Hunts of Morgan and Roe integrated in above.

Hobson’s Fox-Hunting Atlas

London. J & C Walker. (1860).

BL.

FH5.

1875

Similar layout to 1860 above. Railway to Exeter-Okehampton-Lidford, Torrington and Torquay extended to Brixham, Exmouth, Yelverton, Ilfracombe via Bittadon, Ashburton, Seaton and Sidmouth. Hunts are: North Devon (coloured only in Devon), Rolle (smaller), Portsmouth (covering Eggesford and north and east), Tiverton (larger into Somerset), Trelawny (larger), South Devon (larger). Hunt of Seale integrated in latter two hunts. New hunt of Mr Leamons and unnamed hunt in west.

[1] The Walker maps appeared in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 10th editions, i.e. from 1850 to c.1892. To differentiate the atlas maps from Murray maps – all Murray maps were issued uncoloured but the atlas maps seen have all been in bright colour and often on fairly stiff good quality paper. The White edition was also uncoloured. All folding maps in covers seen were in colour.

[2] Dedication is: To their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent & the Princess Victoria, this British Atlas ...

[3] Dedication is now: To her most excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, and to Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, this British Atlas ...

[5] Although the end papers are dated September 1851, it would appear that this map predates the one used earlier in the year. A copy of the Handbook with endpapers dated January 1851 has a later version of the map (see later entry).

[6] Booklet of four counties; Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset in paper covers.